Someone once said indoor climate control is like your heartbeat–you should only notice it when something’s wrong. As much as we’d like to ignore it, though, the fact is, our indoor ‘conditioned’ air–whether warmed or cooled–is very much under our control.
There are a number of structural factors that can affect your home’s climate–such as your heat/air conditioning system, insulation, roofing materials, R-values, leaky windows, doors, ducts and more.
One of every two Americans is convinced that their home could be more cozy. If you are a member of this (uncomfortable) club, there is more than one way to tame the beast.
Programmable puts you in charge
Today’s technology can divide your home into zones. You can have the kitchen, family room and living room in one climate zone–say, at 65 degrees while everyone’s at work or school, and at 72 when you’re home.
The bedrooms can be set for 75 degrees for a few hours in the morning and evening, and 68 at night.
You can control the temperature and humidity from anywhere (work, school, vacation spot). The heat or AC can be programmed to go on at 6:00 AM on work days, at 9:00 AM on Saturday and at 10:00 AM on Sunday.
In short, you have as much control as you choose over your indoor climate– and it’s not rocket science. It’s just a matter of choosing the right smart thermostat.
Options galore…Smart Thermostats are Just the Beginning
Homeowners with multiple levels may be the most sensitive to overheating and chilling. Typically older homes have too much heat in the attic or upper floors, and too little in the basement or lower levels.
Smart thermostats are just the beginning. There are products that allow you to adjust the heat or AC, open or close ‘smart blinds’ in specific rooms, and control the lighting–all from your laptop or iPhone.
Wireless thermostats operate like wifi for the HVAC system. With a remote (like your TV remote), or using an iPhone or iPad, you can ‘teach’ the heat/AC system to recognize when the outside temperature changes, or when you are usually not at home.
Keep air moving through the house
Ventilation can be tricky in today’s air-tight homes. On the one hand, you try to seal the house to prevent warm or cooled air from escaping. On the other hand, your lungs require a certain volume of fresh air.
Whole-house ventilation systems are one solution. These are mechanical systems, long used in commercial buildings, that control the amount of fresh air that’s brought into the house at any given time.
If drafts are an issue, honeycombed window films are increasingly popular. Privacy and light control are added bonuses.
Remember the old saying, ‘Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it’? Well, it doesn’t apply to the inside of your home anymore. As soon as you’ve identified the problem with your indoor climate, you are on your way to a solution.
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